From King City north to Conception and west to Rock Port, the horizon has changed a great deal over the past few years. Now, dotting the skyline and standing 260 feet in the air, white Suzlon S88 turbines are sentinals of the sky, gently whirring and doing what they do best — harnessing the wind to produce power in one of the windiest parts of our state.

The three commercial wind farms in northwest Missouri are joint ventures between John Deere Wind Energy and the Wind Capital Group of St. Louis. Associated Electric Cooperative, located in Springfield, buys the power produced to supply wholesale power to electric cooperatives in Missouri and parts of Iowa and Oklahoma.

The wind turbines pictured on the cover and at left are located on the outskirts of Rock Port and can easily be seen from every direction. They are only three of 75 wind turbines that are part of the commercial wind farms producing power in Missouri.

The turbines each generate a maximum of 2.1 megawatts of power. Associated has contracted to purchase all the power from the projects.

To drive by these wind farms, you’ll need to head northwest to Gentry, Nodaway and Atchison counties. As you near King City on Highway 169, you can’t miss the tall, white turbines along the roadways. Continue on Highway 136 to the Conception wind farm, then on west to Rock Port to see turbines whirring above fields. Please note the turbines are located on private property and should only be viewed from the roads.

For more information on Missouri’s wind farms, log on to the Wind Capital Group Web site at www.windcapitalgroup.com. The site has a form for interested landowners.